Structural composition.



106. COMPOSITIONS, U

comma R PLASTIC. l 3 O 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR B. TAYLOR AND ISIDOB. FLEXNER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO FLEXNER-TAYLOR COMPANY, OF BOSTON, IASSAGHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF IASSACHUSETTS.

STRUCTURAL COMPOSITION.

1,302,452 Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 29, 1919.

80 Drawing. Application fled June 28. 1918. Serial Io. 242.010.

To all whom it may concern: floor was secured by nailing. Another for- Be it known that we. EDGAR R. TAYLOR mula which we have successfully used, in and Lemon FLEXNER, citizens of the United this case for a sloping roof, the composi- States, and residents of Boston. in the tion being somewhat harder, was as folcounty of Suffolk and State of Massachulows setts, have invented an Improvement in Structural Compositions, of which the fol- Ce-ment parts Mineral fiber o0 lowing description is a specification. Sawdust 12 This invention relates to a composition of Sand 16 10 matter adapted for use in constructing buildings and for similar purposes. Our in- The specific gravity of material prepared vention provides an auto-solidifying comin this manner is about half that of ordiposition which may be used either in mononary concrete to which it is in some other lithic construction or in the form of previrespects similar. It is dense. compact, and 16 ously prepared blocks and which has many of substantial transverse strength. At the of the desirable characteristics of stone or same time, nails or like metallic fastening concrete combined with others not characdevices can be driven therein in the ordi- 7o teristic of these materials. In particular we nary manner. Actual tests conducted under provide a material which is of substantial the supervision of the Canadian Depart- 20 strength. of compact homogeneous nature, ment of Public Works have shown that not substantially fire-proof. considerably lighter only could a nail be easily driven into the than concrete as hitherto known. and of such composition but that it was gripped thereby a texture that. while it is not friable fiflikso that the resistance to withdrawal was i or similar fasteningsmay be t eregreater than that of pine or spruce and 26mgnd willbe gripped against withdrawal comparable to hemlock. The material is in the same manner as they are gripped by thus sharply distinguished from composiwood. tions of a friable nature in which under cerso In preparing material according to our intain circumstances a metallic instrument vention we utilize an auto-solidifying vemight penetrate, but wherein such instruhicle. such as Portland cement or the like. ment would simply chip away an opening to which we may add a small amount of for itself in which it would rest loosely and sand for strengthening purposes. With this from which it. could be comparatively ve 1cle we combine a filler in proper proreadily withdrawn. Our material is, on the portions, which filler in itself embodies in contrary, not friable. and in the tests re- 85 properly balanced amounts a fibrous and ferred to a cylinder 8"x16 showed a comprefera ly incombustible binder such as aspression strength of substantially 1800 lbs. bestos and a light, soft filler for which we per square inch. have used sawdust. The material is mixed It is not necessary to use silica in our and laid or poured in the same manner as composition although somewhat greater 40 concrete. strength is obtained thereby. In any event, As an example of suitable compositions it would be used in moderate amount. as in within the scope of our invention, we may the examples given, as distinguished from mention the following specific formulas, the its use with cement in the manufacture of Parts being y concrete. If the sand is omitted a some- Cement 96 arts what greater amount of cement could Min 155;; 24 used- In y e nt, the proportlons W111 100 S :1 t u 6 y h t In accordance with the parsilt. isaifi 8 ticula-r haracteristics of the mate 9.15, w

have ascertained, however, that isre rd- 60 w th which we have combined in suitable ing the sand the proportion of the ling proportions calcium chlorid and ma esia material to the cement should not be greater This composltion was pa 1c aesigna than 60% and not less than 25%. From for use as a flooring to which a wooden about a third to a half of filler gives most tic state, easier to build in forms.

satisfactory results. For example, in the instances given above the proportion is about 1 to 3 for fioorings and about 1 to 2 for the sloping roof. If the upper limit is exceeded the material becomes too hard to receive nails, and if the lower limit is exceeded it lacks strength. The proportion of materials in the filler, however, is also important as an excessive amount of sawdust or the like would make a crumbly material, whereas if only asbestos were used the material would be too hard. The proportion of asbestos to sawdust should preferably be about 4 to 1, and a proportion of 3 to 1 would certainly be an upper limit and the lower limit would be 6 to 1. Preferably, however, we maintain closely the proportions of 4 to 1.

A composition such as described is superior in many ways to the building materials now in use. It is cheaper in cost than good timber and, since it may be applied in a plast is soundproof, incombustible and permanent, whereas wood is resonant, inflammable and subject to decay. In connection with other plastics it might be used as a substitute for lumber as a nail course .or in place of screeds, as it will join autogenously to cement or concrete and can be nailed to as readily as can wood. However, this property together with its low weight, elasticity and ample strength adapt it for original use to the exclusion of the building plastics heretofore known. Its specific gravity is substantially half that of concrete and it may therefore be used either in molded blocks or in monolithic construction without requiring such a strong supporting frame as the use of concrete would make necemary.

-- -Furthermore, coverings and devices of all Having thus described our invention,

0091c: 0! thin patent may be obtained tor what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A structural composition comprising a vehicle of cement and a filler in quantity not greater than sixty or less than twenty-five per cent. of the cement and including incombustible fibers and particles of wood, the former in quantity from three to six times the latter, the whole constituting an auto-solidifying material which when set is of substantial transverse strength, non-friable and penetrable by but not fissile under metallic fastenings and adapted to grip such fastenings to resist withdrawal thereof.

2. The composition as defined in claim 1 wcilth the addition of a moderate amount of san 3. A structural composition comprising a vehicle of cement and a filler in quantity not greater than sixty or less than twentyfive per cent. of the cement and includin incombustible fibers and particles of w in the proportion of substantially four to one, the whole constituting an auto-solidifying material which when set is of substantial transverse strength, non-friable and penetrable by but not fissile under metallic fastenings and adapted to grip such fastenings to resist withdrawal thereof.

4. A structural composition comprising a vehicle of cement and a filler in quantity about forty per cent. of the cement and including incombustible fibers and particles of wood in the proportion of substantially four to one, the whole constituting an autosolidifying material which when set is of substantial transverse strength, non-friable and penetrable by but not fissile under metallic fastenings and adapted to 'p such fastenings to resist withdrawal t ereof.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification.

EDGAR R. TAYLOR. ISIDOR FLEXN'ER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Wuhlngton, D. c." 

